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Firm up war against graft, Mudavadi tells anti-corruption agencies

Says corruption continues to impede anticipated economic progress in the country

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by SYLLUS ABOGE

News26 September 2023 - 14:31
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In Summary


  • •He pointed out that corruption has led to the downfall of governments and has ruined the careers of world-renowned public figures.
  • •He further added that corruption distorts public spending and hinders economic efficiency, slowing down administrative process.
Presiding judge anti-corruption and economic crime division Justice Esther Maina receives a copy of the report during the launch of the EACC 2023-2028 strategic plan at KICC, Nairobi on September 26, 2023.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has urged anti-corruption agencies to strengthen their preventive efforts in the fight against graft.

Mudavadi made his remarks during the launch of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), strategic plan 2023-28 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi on Tuesday.

The plan, the commission said, outlines revamped strategies for the execution of its mandate for five years.

“It is guided by various factors including current corruption trends and patterns as well as the lessons learnt so far,” EACC said.

He emphasized that corruption poses a significant threat to the aspirations of the Kenyan people and it is important for anticorruption agencies to step up their efforts.

“Kenyans have been asking themselves why corruption thrives despite the taxpayer footing the bills of many anti-corruption agencies,” he said.

Mudavadi pointed out that research indicates how corruption hampers development and service delivery by diverting public resources to personal gain.

“Research indicates that corruption undermines development and service delivery by diverting development resources to the personal gain of a few individuals," Mudavadi said.

"Loss of tax revenue, increasing the cost of doing business and therefore deterring investments, distorting public expenditure and reducing economic efficiency thus slowing down administrative processes."

Mudavadi lamented that corruption continues to impede the anticipated economic progress of the country.

He revealed his personal experience with corruption in the establishment of the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, highlighting its harmful effects.

“I confidently speak to this because I have been a victim of this maleficence in the setting up of the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary,” he said.

He pointed out that corruption has led to the downfall of governments and has ruined the careers of world-renowned public figures.

Mudavadi also urged the Judiciary to expedite the hearings of corruption-related cases to ensure swift justice.

The Prime Cabinet acknowledged the National Police Service and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) saying that they have played a crucial role in the fight against corruption.

“I urge the newly appointed Director of Public Prosecutions to embark on this responsibility with zeal, recognising that the promptness and quality of prosecutions wield a direct impact in our pursuit of justice, and purgation of corruption,” Mudavadi said.

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